Yeezy Season 3 at Madison Square Garden: When Kanye West Turned a Fashion Show Into a Cultural Flashpoint

On February 11, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Kanye West unveiled Yeezy Season 3 in a way that blurred the boundaries between a fashion show, an album launch, and a cultural flashpoint.

What might have been remembered solely as a defining moment for the Yeezy brand instead became inseparable from a renewed chapter in West’s long-running feud with Taylor Swift.

Only weeks after the much-discussed cube-shaped bouquet Kanye sent Taylor appeared to signal reconciliation, West premiered his song “Famous” during the show—reviving tensions with lyrics that referenced their 2009 MTV VMAs clash.

The moment crystallized how Yeezy, at the height of its influence, often operated at the intersection of style, celebrity, and controversy, with runway presentations doubling as headline-making cultural statements.

Karlie Kloss attended the Yeezy Season 3 Fashion Show on February 11, 2016, wearing Adidas x Kanye West Yeezy 350 Boost sneakers in pirate black, a Rosie Assoulin spring 2016 outfit, and a Reformation Kensington jacket in army (Credit: Dara Kushner / INFphoto)

While Yeezy footwear dominated streetwear and celebrity closets for years, its image was inevitably shaped by West’s polarizing persona. The brand’s influence eventually unraveled in October 2022, when Adidas officially ended its multi-billion-dollar collaboration with Yeezy following Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks on social media and in interviews.

The split marked a dramatic fall from fashion grace, signaling how quickly public perception—and brand partnerships—can shift in the world of celebrity-endorsed style.

Yeezy Season 3 Sparks Fallout: Swift’s Inner Circle Turns Against the Brand

What made the situation even more intense in 2016 was that Kanye debuted the track during his Yeezy Season 3 fashion show, during which the Kardashian-Jenners—including Swift’s known friends Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid—were seen bopping along to the controversial lyrics.

Taylor’s friends and family members quickly came to her defense. Her younger brother, Austin, was among the first to respond, posting a video of himself throwing his Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 sneakers into the trash.

The rest of Taylor’s “squad” soon distanced themselves as well. In 2016, Jaime King—whose son, Leo Thames, has Taylor as a godmother—removed her video from the Yeezy Season 3 fashion show amid the backlash.

Members of the Swift Squad: Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, Hailee Steinfeld, Cara Delevingne, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Serayah, Lily Aldridge, Mariska Hargitay, and Karlie Kloss at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on August 30, 2015 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)

Celebrity Loyalties Clash with Fashion Choices: Yeezy Fallout in the Swift Squad

Gigi Hadid later clarified that her appearance at the show should not be read as an endorsement of its message, noting in a 2016 tweet that her friends understood where her loyalties stood.

Meanwhile, Taylor’s tall, blonde “twin” Karlie Kloss, who had shared an Instagram photo flaunting her Yeezy sneakers, deleted the post after facing backlash from Swift’s fans.

In 2016, several of Taylor Swift’s close friends distanced themselves from the Yeezy brand following the controversy. If you were in their shoes, would you have thrown out or stopped wearing your Yeezy sneakers, too?

Stepping Out in Style: Celebrities Who Love Yeezy

Yeezy footwear, designed by Kanye West, has been a staple in celebrity fashion, with numerous stars showcasing the brand’s distinctive designs on various occasions. Here are some notable moments featuring Yeezy:

Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 “Moonrock” sneakers feature a minimalist grey Primeknit upper and ribbed Boost sole, capturing the understated, early-era Yeezy aesthetic that helped define modern sneaker culture

While the Yeezy-Adidas partnership officially ended in October 2022 due to Kanye West’s controversial remarks, the legacy of their collaboration still resonates in the sneaker world.

For readers interested in exploring what Adidas offers post-Yeezy, visit our comprehensive guide to the best Adidas shoes. From classic staples to new releases, it’s an excellent resource for finding stylish, comfortable options that suit your taste.